The following features are new or enhanced for Revit Architecture.

For additional detail and a more interactive listing of New Features for Revit Architecture, go to the following: http://www.autodesk.com/revitarchitecture-features.

User Interface Enhancements
  • Modeless Properties Palette
  • Repeat last command / Repeat Commands recently used
  • Quick Access Toolbar (QAT):
    • Single QAT per application
    • Increased number of default commands in the QAT
    • Customization options via dialog box: move command up/down, add separator, remove command
  • Improved access to Worksets and Design Options on status bar
  • Ribbon Enhancements:
    • Redesigned Modify tab:
      • Consistent modify tools – panels and buttons are always in the same order on the left side of the Modify tab. Buttons enable/ disable as necessary.
      • Modify tab name updates to reflect the active contextual tab appended.
      • Contextual tab content is appended to the right side of the Modify tab when active.
      • Modify and contextual contents are separated by a gray visual bar.
    • Persistent access to core modify tools (Object-Action commands):
      • Move
      • Copy
      • Rotate
      • Mirror – Pick Axis
      • Mirror – Draw Axis
      • Delete
    • Type Selector EnhancementsType Selector is combined with the Properties Palette. Open at all times; can be opened/closed using the Properties Palette button available in the Properties ribbon panel.
    • Group Edit Mode accessPanel is removed from the ribbon and will float in drawing area when invoked. Default is upper left corner of drawing area and can be moved.
    • Model In-PlaceProject ribbon replaced with the family ribbon when an in-place model is started or edited. When you finish editing in-place, the ribbon will revert to the project ribbon.
  • Improved icons based on user feedback

Large Team Workflow: Linked Models
  • Enhancements to the Visibility Control of Worksets in workshared files:
    • Visibility by Default for Worksets
    • Ability to open/close Worksets for linked models
    • Ability to control visibility of linked models according to host model
    • Ability to apply View Filters to linked models from host model
  • Ability to tag elements in linked files, with the exception of rooms, spaces, and areas
  • Ability to automatically generate a ceiling grid from walls in a linked model
  • Ability to apply View Filters to linked files

Graphics
  • Realistic materials available in editable views
  • Hardware acceleration (DX9) on by default
  • Levels of Details (adaptive to zoom)
  • Ambient occlusion
  • Display performance improvements (over 30%)
  • Significant performance improvement in display of mechanical and electrical drawings (up to 200%)

Materials
  • Protein 2.0 appearances, in single project library
  • Increased interoperability with 3ds Max through:
    • Export of FBX files to Max with Protein 2 appearances
    • Import of DWG files and ADSK files with Protein 2 appearances
    Note3ds Max/Design 2011 is required for materials to transfer.
  • Support for new realistic display style through Protein 2 materials
  • New material classes available in Protein 2, including procedural appearances

    • Inventor Interoperability
    • Support for oval duct, cable tray, and conduit connectors
    • Support of new electrical properties (such as Motor)
    • Improved performance when importing ADSK files
    • Improved AEC Exchange functionality
    • Support of Protein materials

    Performance Improvements
    • Graphics
    • MultiCore Operations
    • Sync with Central
    • Model Open
    • User interface reaction time
    • Linked Models

    DWG Export
    • Increased visual fidelity when exporting Revit files to DWG
    • Export option for True Color
    • Export option for Text treatment

    Family Editor Enhancements
    • Interactive exploration of parameter values in Revit families
    • Ability to lock labeled dimensions
    • Reporting Parameters

    Parameter Enhancements
    • Default parameter type (length vs. text)
    • Parameters groups automatically set

    Temporary Dimension Enhancements
    • Remembering witness lines
    • Family Editor: right-click permanent dimensions to select labels
    • Ability to control temporary dimension font size and background (transparent or opaque)

    3D Alignment Enhancements
    • Align tool now works on an element’s node, vertex, edge, surface, form, or level

    Expanded Region of High Geometric Accuracy
    • Previous versions of Revit were unable to maintain the expected level of geometric accuracy at locations farther than 1 mile from the project origin. Revit will now maintain a high level of geometric accuracy for elements placed within 20 miles of the project origin.

    Selection Enhancements
    • Select All Instances in the current view or in the entire project

    Text Notes Enhancements
    • Additional leader attachment points: Top Left (TL), Middle Left (ML), Bottom Left (BL), Top Right (TR), Middle Right (MR), and Bottom Right (BR).
    • Ability to adjust leader end distance
    • Ability to show box around text
    • Ability to create bullets and numbering

    Sheet Enhancements
    • Create new sheet list rows to create placeholder sheets
    • Convert placeholder sheets to project sheets
    • Grid guide for sheets, enabling consistent sheet creation

    Floor Enhancements
    • Ability to set span direction for metal deck floors

    Analysis
    • Sun PathInteractive tool for visualizing the impact of natural light and shadows on buildings and sites

    Conceptual Design Environment (CDE) / Conceptual Form Making and Editing Tool Enhancements
    • Solid-Solid Cut: Ability to cut one solid from another solid
    • Dissolving Forms: Ability to dissolve a form back to the curves from which it was created.
    • Generic mass template
    • Flexible component mass
    • Sketch Edit mode for Form Profiles

    Surface Rationalization Enhancements
    • Dividing Surfaces with Intersects by:
      • Intersecting levels, reference planes, and lines on reference planes
      • Combination of U or V grids and intersects

    Subscription Advantage Pack
    NoteThe following items were previously released exclusively to Subscription customers.

    • Conditional Formatting in Schedule
    • Element Section Area and Linear Weight in Schedules
    • Span Direction Tool
    • DWG Export enhancements (Index color and True Color support)
    • Beam Coping for steel beams framed into joined beams and columns
    • Text Formatting Shortcuts (Ctrl+B, Ctrl+I, and Ctrl+U)
    • Beam System Tags
    • Split Walls with Gap
    • Keyboard Shortcut UI
    • Find and Replace Text in Notes
    • Convert between Line Types: Model, Detail, Symbolic
    • Export to DWG with correct RGB colors
    • Linked File Performance Enhancements
    • New API for slope angle and elevation for x,y location in given slab with choice of top and bottom
    • Structural Components and Modeling:
      • Slanted Columns
      • Beam Placement using 3D CAD Geometry
      • Curved Beams
      • Structural Trusses
      • Metal and Structural Deck Assembly
      • Control beam length tolerance
      • Beam Coping Tool

    Revit Extensions
    • Shared Parameters Converter
    • Model Review
    • Autodesk Revit DB Link
    • Road and Terrain modules
    • Wall framing enhancements:
      • New method to choose the location of the studs (wall layers are exposed)
      • Multi-selection of walls and openings

    User Assistance (Documentation)
    • Transition to Web Help, which includes improved search capabilities
    • Streamlined Help reference content
    • Short Tutorials in video format
    • Additional Enhanced Tooltips
    • New animated ToolClips
    • Improved First Experience

    Other Enhancements
    • Custom elevation tag
    • List sheets not in a project on drawing list
    • Background images in renderings
    • Repeat last command
    • Sheet layout grid
    • Removal of 4 core rendering limit
    • Google Maps™ mapping service interface (Location dialog) lets you visualize project locations